Vaginal Mesh Lawyer Atlanta Ga

vaginal mesh lawyer georgia
3295 River Exchange Drive
suite 348
Norcross , Georgia
30092
770 212 9798

vaginal mesh lawyer georgia

3295 River Exchange Drive, Suite 348 Norcross, Georgia 30092

Phone: 770 212 9798 URL of Map

POP surgery vaginal mesh lawsuits atlanta ga

Transvaginal mesh is used to treat various health conditions cause by weakened pelvic muscles. The FDA categorizes mesh products into four categories:

• Non-absorbable synthetic. This type of mesh is considered a permanent implant because it will remain in the body indefinitely. More than half of all mesh products approved by the FDA fall into this category. These products are made from synthetic materials like plastic or polyester. Polypropylene is the most popular material for manufacturers, and 91 percent of non-absorbable synthetic mesh is made of this plastic.
• Absorbable synthetic. Absorbable mesh loses strength and degrades over time and is not intended as a long-term treatment. Ideally, the patient’s new tissue growth at the implant site helps to keep the repair strong.
• Biologic. These mesh products are natural and derived from animal tissue that has been specially disinfected for implanting in the human body. These products degrade over time and are usually made from cow (bovine) or pig (porcine) tissue.
• Composite. This mesh is made from a combination of any of the above three categories.

Manufacturers weave synthetic mesh materials together in several different shapes, depending on their intended use. When the fibers are woven together, pores are created on the surface of the material. According to the FDA, lightweight, large-pore mesh reduces the body’s inflammatory response.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when organs sag or fall into the vaginal canal because of weak pelvic muscles. Transvaginal mesh serves as a hammock beneath the organs to hold them up. Usually, the bladder, uterus, rectum or bowel is involved in the prolapse; the bladder is the most common organ affected. Depending on the organs involved, surgeons may place the piece of mesh on the front, back or top wall of the vagina. The type of mesh used also varies in shape and size.

This type of surgery is usually performed transvaginally. In fact, three out of four surgeries to treat POP with mesh were done transvaginally in 2010.

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)

Stress urinary incontinence occurs when the bladder leaks urine during moments of increased physical activity that increases pressure on the bladder. The mesh is used to support the urethra when pelvic muscles weaken.

Surgical treatment of SUI with mesh – usually called a bladder sling or vaginal tape – is the most common type of surgery used to correct the condition, and 80 percent of SUI mesh surgeries in 2010 were done through the vagina. Doctors use transvaginal placement of bladder slings because it is considered less invasive and the incisions are smaller.

Hysterectomy

After a hysterectomy, some women suffer from vaginal vault prolapse – where the vagina collapses in upon itself because of the removal of the uterus. Mesh is surgically implanted on the top of the vagina and sewn into connective tissues to hold the vagina in place.

Vaginal mesh complications

Symptoms of a Transvaginal Mesh Problem

Complaints about problems from transvaginal mesh surgeries started as far back as the early 1990s. Reports about problems related to the use of vaginal mesh systems and bladder slings became common enough that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health notification in 2008. It discussed known problems related to transvaginal mesh systems.

The FDA updated its transvaginal mesh advisory in 2011 and 2012 based on an increase in the frequency of post-surgery complications. At least 33 manufacturers of transvaginal mesh products were ordered to conduct post-market safety studies in order to determine the frequency and extent of complications with their products.

As with most medical devices that cause complications, individual symptoms and problems related to the implantation of a transvaginal mesh system can vary. However, the following signs and symptoms may suggest post-surgery complications:

• A recurrence of pre-surgery problems such as urinary incontinence
• Vaginal bleeding
• Vaginal infections
• Constipation or difficult bowel movements
• Pain during sex
• Vaginal discharge
• Pain in the lower back
• A sensation of something protruding from the vagina
• Bladder outlet obstruction
• Urine leakage
• Mesh erosion
• Abdominal pressure
• Recurrence of dropped organs
• Chronic Infection.

Problems or complications associated with transvaginal mesh are typically a result of the mesh’s failure to bond properly with the vaginal tissue and/or mesh erosion. Mesh erosion is one of the most common issues found in post-surgery patients. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most dangerous complications.

Mesh erosion, or mesh extrusion, happens when the edges of the mesh protrude through the vaginal lining and into nearby organs. The edges of the mesh material can be very rough, meaning that serious damage can occur if they perforate nearby organs. FDA findings have also indicated that the mesh may contract once inside the body, causing tightening or shortening which can be very painful. Moreover, it is thought that the mesh itself may interfere with the body’s healing process, adding to the chance of infection or complications.

Although the FDA’s investigation into transvaginal mesh systems is ongoing, information compiled to date has resulted in the following conclusions:

• Transvaginal mesh repairs introduce more risks than traditional non-mesh repairs.
• There is no evidence that mesh used for repairs on the top or back wall of the vagina provide any added benefits compared to traditional surgeries without mesh.
• A transvaginal surgical repair to correct a prolapse may not cure symptoms of prolapse.